June 19, 2014 10:40 AM

Pages 4253-4264
Whole Number 165

HAVE WE FOUND THE PARENTS OF JOHN SPARKS (ca. 1772-1858)OF GREENUP COUNTY, KENTUCKY, AND BUCHANAN COUNTY, MISSOURI?

By Paul E. Sparks

The Sparks Family Association was in its infancy when an article about the
naming of Sparks, Kansas, was published on pages 75-76 of the June 1955 issue
of The Sparks Quarterly, No. 10. According to that article, the village was
originally called Highland Station, but it was renamed in 1908 for its oldest
citizen, 26.4 John Green Sparks, who had been born in 1825. The writer of the article
was Derril C. Sparks, a descendant of John Green Sparks.

As related in the article, 26.4 John Green Sparks was born March 11, 1825 (or 1826), in
Greenup County, Kentucky, and was a son of 26 William John Sparks who
had born ca. 1772 in Virginia and whose wife had been Mary Jane Green.
They had been married about 1815, probably in Kentucky, according to this account.
She had been born ca. 1783 in Kentucky. In 1825, the couple was in Greenup
County, Kentucky.

Subsequent to the publication of this article, several descendants of 26. William
John and Mary Jane (Green) Sparks began exchanging information about them
in an effort to identify their parents. It soon became apparent that no record
could be found that bore the given names of "William John" Sparks-he
was always referred to as John Sparks. A second difference between the article
and the records that were found was the name of "Mary Jane Green."
No record has been found that gives Green as the maiden name of the wife of
John Sparks, nor Jane as her middle name.

The 1820 census listed John Sparks as head of a family in Greenup County, Kentucky.
He and his wife were both enumerated there as in the age category of 26 to 45.
Living in the household (quite likely their children) were a male and a female
in the age category of 10 to 16, and one male and four females under 10 years
of age. (Readers are reminded that it was not until the 1850 census was taken
that names, other than the head of each household, were recorded; all members
of each household, including the head, were simply enumerated on federal censuses
from 1790 through 1840.)

Living near John Sparks in Greenup County in 1820 was the family of Isaac Sparks.
In fact, Isaac's name was recorded on the census immediately following that
of John Sparks. Isaac and his wife were enumerated in the age category 26 to
45; living in their household (quite likely their children) were one male between
10 and 16 years of age, as well as two males and two females under 10 years
of age.

It seems quite probable that John Sparks and Isaac Sparks, who were listed
on the 1820 census of Greenup County, Kentucky, were brothers; however, a search
there for their parents has not been successful.

Recently, another member of the Sparks Family Association, Michael L. Cox of
1358 Rice Road, Centerville, Indiana, 47330, has advanced the theory that John
Sparks and Isaac Sparks were sons of 44. Isaac Sparks, Sr., a pioneer settler of
Estill County, Kentucky. Isaac Sparks, Senior, whom we shall designate hereafter
as "Old" Isaac, has been the subject of an article that was published
in three issues of the Quarterly. Those issues were: September 1973, Whole No.
83; March 1974, Whole No. 85; and June 1974, Whole No. 86.

We are inclined to agree with Mr. Cox's theory and believe our readers will
find it to be quite convincing. Both John Sparks and Isaac Sparks, Jr. seem
to fit into the family of Isaac and Catherine (---) Sparks of early Estill County,
Kentucky.

As shown in the information published on pages 1634-1635 of the March 1974
issue of the Quarterly, 44.3 John Sparks, son of "Old" Isaac, was born
about 1772. He was married to Mary ["Polly"] Bradshaw in May 1804,
in dark County, Kentucky, which borders Estill County on the latter's northern
end. The marriage bond for John Sparks and Mary Bradshaw, with Edward Kendred
as bondsman, dated May 4, 1804, was recorded in Book 1, page 55 in dark County.
She was a daughter of James Bradshaw. When the 1810 census was taken of Estill
County, John and Mary were enumerated along with three children, two sons and
one daughter under ten years of age. John paid taxes in Estill County from 1808
to 1819, but he was not listed on either the tax roll or on the census of that
county in 1820. We believe that he had moved to Greenup County in time to be
listed, with his household enumerated, on the 1820 census there, as we noted
on the previous page.

As shown in the information published on pages 1640-41 of the June 1974 issue
of the Quarterly, Isaac Sparks, son of "Old" Isaac, was born ca.
1783. He was married to Annis McGuire in March 1809 (marriage bond dated March
8, 1809) in Estill County. When the 1810 census was taken of Estill County,
Isaac and Annis had one child, a son. Isaac paid taxes in Estill County from
1812 to 1819; however, he paid no taxes there from 1819 to 1823. He again paid
taxes in Estill County from 1823 to 1829, but he paid no taxes there between
1829 and 1833.

(On the tax rolls of Estill County, Isaac Sparks, son of "Old" Isaac,
was sometimes designated as ""Isaac Sparks, Senior" in order
to distinguish him from his nephew, 44.1.3 Isaac Sparks, born ca. 1799, a son of
44.1 Elijah Sparks. "Old" Isaac Sparks, patriarch of the Estill County
Sparkses, had died about 1815.)

As stated above, we believe that 44.3 John Sparks and 44.6 Isaac Sparks, sons of "Old"
Isaac, left Estill County about 1819 and went to Greenup County where their
names appeared, and their households were enumerated, on the 1820 census. John
remained in Greenup County, but Isaac returned to Estill County, probably because
of the death of his wife, Annis. It was there that he was married (2nd) to Frances
Crawford on August 30, 1824. Then, about 1829, Isaac went to Madison County,
Kentucky, in time to appear, and his household to be enumerated, on the 1830
census. By 1833, however, he had returned again to Estill County where he continued
to live until his death about 1846. Isaac and his descendants are described
on pages 1640-1666 of the June 1974 issue of the Quarterly.

(John Sparks and Isaac Sparks may have moved from Estill County to Greenup
County in order to work in the iron industry. Both counties produced iron in
the early 1800s. Both had natural iron ore and limestone, and both had forests
to supply charcoal. Today, historical markers commemorate the sites of these
early furnaces in both Estill and Greenup Counties. Greenup County, alone, has
over a dozen such markers, while Estill County has about half that number.)

An analysis of the census records pertaining to John Sparks and Isaac Sparks
show a remarkable similarity to the actual families of these men. In the case
of John Sparks, the 1810 census of Estill County provides a foundation for the
1820 and 1830 censuses of Greenup County, based on the enumeration of members
of his household in age groups. Similarly, in the case of Isaac Sparks, the
1810 census of Estill County provides a foundation for interpreting his entry
on the 1820 census of Greenup County.

The largest obstacle to the acceptance of Mr. Cox's theory, as discussed above,
centers around the maiden name of the wife of John Sparks. Was her name Mary
Jane Green. or was it Mary ["Polly"] Bradshaw? After
several months of correspondence, we have now arrived at the conclusion that
there is little, if any, evidence that her name was "Mary Jane
Green." Apparently, her maiden name was assumed to be Green because
a son was given the name of John Green Sparks.

This assumption appears to have
been handed down among several descendants until it became accepted as fact.
As noted above, however, we have the official record from dark County, Kentucky,
Book 1, page 55, of the marriage bond for John Sparks and Mary Bradshaw dated
May 9, 1804, with Edward Kendred as bondsman. (See the Quarterly of March 1963,
Whole No. 41, p. 722, for this and other early Sparks marriage bonds in dark
County.) It should be kept in mind that John Sparks was married in his "home"
county of dark; Estill County was not formed until 1808 from dark and Madison
Counties.

Likewise, there appears to be no foundation for the statement that the full
name of John Sparks was "William John Sparks." This assumption probably
developed from the fact that the first son of John Sparks was named William.
No one seems to know how else the given name of William came to be assigned
as a forename for John Sparks.

For the reasons set forth above, we are now inclined to believe that the John
Sparks in early Greenup County, Kentucky, was the son of Isaac and Catherine
Sparks of early Estill County, Kentucky. As stated above, he was born ca.
1772, probably in that area of present-day western Pennsylvania which was claimed
by both Pennsylvania and Virginia. He and his spouse, Mary ["Polly"]
(Bradshaw) Sparks, had two sons and five daughters when the 1820 census was
taken of Greenup County.

On March 29, 1827, John Sparks bought 55 acres of land on Tygarts Creek in
Greenup County from David White. White was a resident of Scioto County, Ohio,
just across the Ohio River from Greenup County. In the following November, Sparks
served on a jury which was concerned with the construction of a water-run grist
mill on Tygarts Creek near William Fuqua's old mill site. When his family was
enumerated on the 1830 census of Greenup County, another son had been added
to the family.

When Carter County was formed in 1838 from the Kentucky counties of Greenup
and Lawrence, John Sparks lived in that portion of Greenup County that became
a part of the new county. He was enumerated on the 1840 census of Carter County.
Four of his children were still at home in 1840, and he now owned 145 acres
of land on Tygarts Creek, on which he paid taxes.

About 1845, John Sparks paid his last taxes in Carter County and moved to Missouri
where he settled in Centre Township in Buchanan County. When the 1850 census
was taken of Buchanan County, he was listed as 77 years of age and a native
of Kentucky. His wife, Mary, was listed as 67 years of age and a native of Kentucky.

John Sparks died in Buchanan County, probably in the late summer of 1858. His
son, John G. Sparks, was appointed to administer his estate. Mary Sparks, widow
of John, was living in the home of her son, John G. Sparks, in Buchanan County,
Missouri, when the 1860 census was taken. She is believed to have died in 1863.

According to census records and information provided by descendants, 44.3 John and
Mary Sparks were the parents of at least eight children, all of whom reached
maturity, and there is a possibility that they had two more daughters, born
between 1815 and 1820, whom we have been unable to find. All of their children
were born in Kentucky.

44.3.1 William ["Will"] Sparks, son of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks,
was born ca. 1806. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Emmaline
Hyde on January 1, 1828, in Greenup County, Kentucky. She had been born ca.
1807 and was a daughter of James Lewis Hyde. She and Will sold land on Beech
Fork in Greenup County to Benjamin How land on August 4, 1840, and moved to
Missouri where they rented land in Buchanan County. It was there that Emmaline
died about 1842, probably when her sixth child was born.

Will's second marriage was to Sarah A. (Emmerick) Rector on December 15, 1845,
in Buchanan County. She had been born ca. 1822 in Illinois and was a widow
with two, possibly three, children by her former marriage. In 1854, Will and
Sarah moved their family to Texas where they were in Bosque County when the
1860 census was taken. Will was described on that census as a tavern keeper.
In 1862, he and Sarah sold land in Denton County, Texas, and moved to Sebastian
County, Arkansas. It was there that they were listed on the 1870 census, and
it was probably there that Will died sometime between 1870 and 1880. When the
1880 census was taken, Sarah was shown as married to J. E. Stonestreet and was
living in Washington County, Arkansas.

Will Sparks had twelve children, six by each of his marriages.

44.3.1.1 James Lewis Sparks, son of William and Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks, was born
on December 25, 1828, in Greenup County, Kentucky, and was obviously named
for his maternal grandfather. He was married twice. His first marriage was
to Malinda Jane Sullivan on February 14, 1850, in Buchanan County, Missouri.
Shortly after the marriage, he and Malinda moved to Denton County, Texas.
It was there that Malinda died about 1853 when her first child was born. The
invant died also.

James Sparks was a farmer, but he was also a schoolteacher. Among his students
was a teenage girl named Mary Barbara Emerling. She had been born July
18, 1838, in Illinois and was a daughter of George and Eliza- beth Emerling
[sometimes spelled Emberling or Emerlin]. She and James were married about
1855, probably in Denton County.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, James enlisted in Company E, 18th Regiment
Texas Cavalry in January 1862, along with his brothers, Isaac and Bill Sparks.
He was severely wounded in the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee, but managed
to survive. He was captured in the fall of 1864 and imprisoned at Camp Chase,
Ohio. He was released at the end of the war. He died near Lewisville, Texas,
on February 2, 1905. He and Mary Barbara had eight children: Emaline Elizabeth,
Mary Annie, Mildred Helen, Sarah Melvina ["Mellie"], John Martin,
Margaret Jane ["Meg"], Fannie Leanna ["Lee"], and George
William.

44.3.1.2 Mary ["Polly"] Ann Sparks, daughter of William and Emmaline
(Hyde) Sparks, was born ca. 1830. She was married to Richard Moss on April
4, 1844, in Buchanan County, Missouri.

44.3.1.3 Sarah ["Sally"] Sparks, daughter of William and Emmaline (Hyde)
Sparks was born ca. 1836.

44.3.1.4 Priscilla Sparks, daughter of William and Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks, was
bron about 1838.

44.3.1.5 Jesse Isaac Sparks, son of William and Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks, was born
about 1839 in Kentucky. He was married to Loretta ----- about 1859 and they
had a daughter, Elizabeth, born in the fall of 1859. Isaac (as he was generally
called) enlisted in Company E, 18th Regiment Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., in January
1862. He died while in the military service on January 7, 1864, at Newman,
Georgia. (See the December 1969 issue of the Quarterly, Whole No. 67, page
1283.)

44.3.1.6 William Sparks, Jr. son of William and Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks, was born
about 1840 in Kentucky. He was married to Glory Ann Emberling about 1861.
She had been born June 13, 1834, and was a daughter of George and Elizabeth
Emberling; thus, she was a sister of Mary Barbara Emberling who was the wife
of James Lewis Sparks. (See item A,l, above.) William and Glory Ann had two
children, George and Elizabeth. He enlisted with his brother, Isaac James
Sparks, in Company E, 18th Regiment Texas Cavalry, C.S.A., and, according
to a relative, he never returned from the war, nor has any record of his death
been found.

As was stated above, after the death of his first wife, Emmaline (Hyde) Sparks,
William ["Will"] Sparks was married (2nd) to Sarah (Emmerick) Rector in 1845, and they had six children.

44.3.1.7 Benjamin F. Hugh Sparks, son of Will and Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was
born ca. 1847 in Missouri. Hugh (as he was called) grew to manhood in Texas
and is said to have worked there hauling freight with oxen and wagon.

44.3.1.8 Frances ["Franky"] Catherine Sparks, daughter of William and
Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was born ca. 1849 in Missouri. She is said to have been
married to a man named Smith.

44.3.1.9 Minerva J. Sparks, daughter of William and Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was
born ca. 1854 in Texas.

44.3.1.10 Christopher Columbus ["Lum"] Sparks, son of William and Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was born September 18, 1856, in Texas. He was married
to Mary Ann Bower on September 12, 1875, in Washington County, Arkansas. She
had been born June 2, 1857, and was a daughter of William and Lydia (Newman)
Bower. She and Lum lived in Washington County until 1900 when they went to
the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma Territory. Lum died in Mayes County, Oklahoma,
on November 20, 1932, and Mary Ann died there on June 2, 1942. They had seven
children:

44.3.1.11. Sarah A. Sparks, daughter of Will and Sarah (Emmerick) Sparks, was born
in April 1860. She was married to John Glenn in 1880 in Washington County,
Arkansas.

44.3.1.12. Lullia ["Lou"] Sparks, daughter of Will and Sarah (Emmerick)
Sparks, was born ca. 1862. She was married to Samuel Shannon in 1880 in
Washington County, Arkansas. She died in 1937.

44.3.2 Frances Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born in
June 1808. She was married to Henry Culp in April 1825 in Greenup County, Kentucky.
The marriage bond was dated April 12, 1825, with her father acting as bondsman.
(The marriage was doubtless performed within a few days following the date of
the bond.) Henry had been born ca. 1805 in Kentucky and was a son of Tillman
and Hannah D. Culp, natives of Pennsylvania. According to a descendant, Henry
and Frances moved across the Ohio River to Scioto County, Ohio, about 1831,
and then to Buchanan County, Missouri, about 1845. They were the parents of
nine children.

44.3.2.1 Tillman Green Culp was born February 2, 1827, in Kentucky. He was married
to Alvira Salisbury. He died on December 7, 1907, in Johnson County, Kansas.

44.3.2.2 Henry John Culp may have been born ca. 1829. Apparently he was married
twice. His first marriage was to Dulcina ----- about 1850. She died in October
1865 in Holt County, Missouri. Henry's second marriage was to 44.3.3.1 Sabrina Abigail (Sparks) Bradshaw on May 8, 1866. She had been born
about 1834 and was a daughter of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks. (See Item
C, 1, below) Henry died on December 4, 1894, at Nevada, Missouri. Sabrina
died on May 10, 1916.

Relatives say that Henry John Culp had five children, We have not learned
the order of their births, nor do we know which of them were a product of
Henry's first or second marriage. We have been told that their names were
General, Jackson, Susie, Mary, and John A.

44.3.2.3. Jenetta Culp was born ca. 1830.44.3.2.4. Mary Culp was born ca. 1831 in Ohio.44.3.2.5. Matilda Culp was born ca. 1833 in Ohio.44.3.2.6. Benjamin Culp was born ca. 1835 in Ohio.44.3.2.7. Susan Culp was born ca. 1837. She is said to have been married to a
man named Carter.44.3.2.8. Mahala Culp was born ca. 1839.44.3.2.9. Jonathan Culp was born ca. 1841.

44.3.3 Isaac Sparks, son of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born ca. 1810,
according to information given on the 1850, 1860, and 1880 censuses. On his
tombstone in the Silent Cemetery at DeSoto, Kansas, his birth was inscribed
as November 22, 1797. He was married to Lucinda Thomas in March 1833, in Greenup
County, Kentucky. She had been born July 15, 1812, in Kentucky and was a
daughter of James Thomas, who acted as bondsman; the marriage bond was dated March 15, 1833. Isaac and Lucinda lived in that
portion of Greenup County which became a part of Carter County in 1838, and
when the 1840 census was taken, they were enumerated in Carter County. About
1845, they moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, where they were listed on the
1850 and 1860 censuses. They lived near the town of St. Joseph.

Sometime prior to 1880, Isaac and Lucinda moved across the Missouri River to
Doniphan County, Kansas. Isaac died on September 10, 1885, probably at the home
of his sister, Abigail, in Jefferson County, Kansas. Lucinda died on February
3, 1899. They were buried in the Silent Cemetery at DeSoto, Kansas. They had
five children.

44.3.3.1. Sabrina Abigail Sparks, daughter of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was
born ca. 1834 in Kentucky. She was married three times. Her first marriage
was on June 9, 1853, to John N. Bradshaw in Buchanan County, Missouri. He had
been born ca. 1834, and he and Sabrina had three children before his death,
which occurred in 1860. These children were:

Sabrina's second marriage was to John Shepard about 1862. The marriage ended
in divorce in 1864. The third marriage of Sabrina Sparks was to 43.3.2.2 Henry John Culp on May 8, 1866. He was a son of Henry and Frances (Sparks) Culp. (See Item B,
2, above) He died on December 4, 1894, and Sabrina died on May 10, 1916.

44.3.3.2 Jackson Sparks, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born ca.
1843 in Kentucky. He was married, but we have not learned the name of his wife.
They had at least one child, 44.3.3.2.1 Sarah L. Sparks, born in March 1872.

44.3.3.3 George W. Sparks, son of Isaac
and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born January 18, 1846, in Buchanan County,
Missouri. He served in Company G, 43rd Regiment Missouri Infantry during the
Civil War and received a pension for his service. (See page 4277 of this issue
of the Quarterly for an abstract of his pension file.) After returning from
the service, he was married to Sarah Woods on June 6, 1867, in Buchanan County.
She had been born ca. 1846 in Kentucky. She and George had three children
(44.3.3.3.1 Rosa Sparks, 44.3.3.3.2 Sarah Sparks, and 44.3.3.3.3 George Sparks) before her death, which occurred on December 26, 1873,
when their third child was born.

After the death of Sarah, George Sparks was married (2nd) to Mary C. Wilson on January 2, 1879, in Jackson County, Missouri. She had been born ca. 1845
in Illinois. George died shortly after his second marriage, on February 14,
1881, in Fremont County, Iowa. Mary (Wilson) Sparks died on April 28, 1902.

44.3.3.4 Henry J. Sparks, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born ca.
1853 in Missouri. He is said to have been married to Anna ----, and they had
seven children:

44.3.3.5 Harrison Sparks, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Thomas) Sparks, was born ca.
1855 in Missouri.

44.3.4 Dulcena Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born ca.
1812. She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Thomas Walker on November
19, 1828, in Greenup County, Kentucky. Her second marriage was to Stephen Litteral on October 12, 1833, also in Greenup County. We have not further information
about her.

44.3.5 Catherine Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born
about 1818. She was probably named for her paternal grandmother. She was married
to James W. Howard on December 12, 1836, in Greenup County, Kentucky. He had
been born ca. 1814 and was a son of Thomas and Nancy (Gardner) Howard. He
and Catherine moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, where James died in 1872.
Catherine died sometime after 1872. They are said to have had twelve children.

44.3.5.1 Thomas J. Howard was born ca. 1838.44.3.5.2 Malinda Howard was born ca. 1840. She was married to a man named Cassell.44.3.5.3 John G. Howard was born ca. 1842.44.3.5.4 Mary Ann Howard was born ca. 1844. She was married to a man named Parker.44.3.5.5 William Alvin Howard was born ca. 1846.44.3.5.6 Nancy J. Howard was born ca. 1848. She was married to a man named Hill.44.3.5.7 James L. Howard was born ca. 1850.44.3.5.8 Martha Amanda Howard was born ca. 1852. She was married to a man named
Clink.44.3.5.9 Henderson J. Howard was born ca. 1855.44.3.5.10 Raleigh Howard was born ca. 1856.44.3.5.11 Emily Catherine Howard was born ca. 1858.44.3.5.12 George W. Howard was born ca. 1860. He was married to Rachel ---.

44.3.6 Abigail Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born
November 19, 1820, in Greenup County, Kentucky. She accompanied her parents
to Buchanan County, Missouri, and it was there that she was married to George
Washington Howard on December 19, 1845. He had been born on April 9, 1824, in
Kentucky, and was a son of Thomas and Nancy (Gardner) Howard; thus he was a
brother of James W. Howard who was married to Abigail's sister, 44.3.5 Catherine,
in 1836.

According to Mary C. Bowen, a great-great-granddaughter, the Howards were in
Buchanan County when the 1850 and 1860 censuses were taken. By 1880, however,
Abigail was in Jefferson County, Kansas. She was listed on a special census
of that county in 1885. Her brother, Isaac Sparks, was also living in her household
and was 76 years old.

Two of Abigail's sons, James Howard and David Howard, participated in the 1889
Oklahoma land run. Abigail and her youngest son, Thomas, followed them soon
afterward and filed an application for land in 1893. By 1900, Abigail was living
on her homestead, which was located on the boundary line be- tween Kingfisher
and Garfield Counties. She died there on June 7, 1901, at the age of 81 years.
George W. Howard died on November 13, 1895, in Leavenworth County, Kansas. He
and Abigail were the parents of nine children.

44.3.6.1 Nancy Ann Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was
born on November 12, 1846, in Buchanan County, Missouri. She was married to
George W. Crow on December 10, 1863, in Atchison County, Kansas. George died
on July 1, 1883, in Washington County, Arkansas. Nancy died on April 16, 1903,
in Rogers County, Oklahoma. They had eight children: William, Abigail, Mary
Elizabeth, James, John, George, Charles, and David. Mary Elizabeth Crow was
married to Albert Chidester, and they were the grandparents of Mary C. Bowen who has been most helpful in the preparation of this article.

44.3.6.2 Mary Jane Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was
born in April 1848. She was married to William Cooper. She died after 1900,
probably in Oklahoma.

44.3.6.3 Lucinda F. Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was
born on November 2, 1849. She was married to James W. Lansdown on March 26,
1873. She died on April 10, 1931, at Wichita, Kansas.

44.3.6.4 John William Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born
on March 9, 1853. He was married twice. We have not learned the name of his
first wife. His second marriage was to Sophronia Bledsoe. He died on August
12, 1923, and was buried in the state of Washington.

44.3.6.5 George Washington Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was
born on December 21, 1855. He was married to Catherine Hubbel. They lived
in Douglas County, Kansas, where George died on June 27, 1934.

44.3.6.6 David Jackson Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born
in 1856. He was married to Helen Warhurst. He died in 1923, in Oklahoma.

44.3.6.7 James Isaac Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born
on July 5, 1860. He died on July 28, 1894.

44.3.6.8 Amanda Abigail Howard, daughter of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard,
was born September 9, 1862, in Kansas. She was married to C. H. Egner.
She died on December 28, 1932, in Garfield County, Oklahoma.

44.3.6.9 Thomas Edward Howard, son of George and Abigail (Sparks) Howard, was born
on April 28, 1864. He was married to Cynthia Emmaline Taylor. He died on November
4, 1939, in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.

44.3.7 Martha ["Patsey" ] Sparks, daughter of John and Mary (Bradshaw)
Sparks, was born ca. 1820. She was married to James Litteral on October 29,
1841, in Carter County, Kentucky. When the 1850 census was taken of Buchanan
County, Missouri, she was listed in the household of her parents. With her was
a daughter, Abigail Litteral, aged 7, born in Kentucky. James Litteral apparently
had died prior to 1850. Patsey (Sparks) Litteral probably died about 1857-58
since she was not named as an heir in the settlement of her father's estate
in 1858.

44.3.8 John Green Sparks, son of John and Mary (Bradshaw) Sparks, was born March
11, 1825. On February 12, 1844, he was married to Emily Henderson in Carter
County, Kentucky. She had been born on March 10, 1826, in Kentucky and was a
daughter of Robert William and Eliza (Klink) Henderson. (A History of
Carter County. Kentucky, states that Robert William Henderson was married
to Sarah Swim. Perhaps he was married twice.)

The first two children of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks were born in Kentucky,
but about 1847 John and Emily moved to Buchanan County, Missouri, probably with
his parents. It was there that their other twelve children were born. When the
1850 census was taken, John was renting a farm in Centre Township, but when
the 1860 census was taken, he was shown as owning land valued at $6,400. By
this time, his father had died, and his mother was living in his household.

At the close of the Civil War, John moved his family across the Missouri River
to Doniphan County, Kansas. It was there that the village of Highland Station
was renamed "Sparks" in his honor. The story of the renaming was told
in the June 1955 issue of the Quarterly.

Emily (Henderson) Sparks died on November 30, 1900. John died on April 3, 1911.
They were buried in the lola Cemetery at Sparks, Kansas. As stated above, they
were the parents of fourteen children.

44.3.8.1. Eliza Jane Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was
born January 26, 1845, in Carter County, Kentucky. She was married to Edmund
Riley Parker on April 12, 1864, in Buchanan County, Missouri. They had seven
children, all born in Doniphan County, Kansas. They were: Sarah J. Parker;
Robert Parker; Louis W. Parker; Edward Parker; Delia Parker; James R. Parker; and Albert Parker. This family
moved to Yakima, Washington, about 1900, and Eliza was living there when her
father died in 1911.

44.3.8.2 Robert William Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on January 18, 1847, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He was married to Generva
Zenobia Thompson on January 18, 1872, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had
been born July 9, 1854, in Indiana and was a daughter of Joshua W. and
Katherine (Milbourne) Thompson. She died on August 6, 1894, shortly after
the birth of her tenth child. Robert survived her nearly thirty years, dying
on December 23, 1923, also at Sparks, Kansas. They had ten children, including
twins who died at birth. The eight who survived were:

44.3.8.2.1 William Sparks; 44.3.8.2.2 Iva
Manzma Sparks; 44.3.8.2.3 Silas Sparks; 44.3.8.2.4 Charles Clair Sparks; Charles Clair Sparks
was married to Sus Ella Hitz, and they were the grandparents of Derril Sparks who has been most helpful in the preparation of this article.44.3.8.2.5 Susie Elmira Sparks; 44.3.8.2.6 Frank
Floyd Sparks; 44.3.8.2.7 Robert Ray Sparks; and 44.3.8.2.8 Ellis Evert Sparks.

Photographs of Robert William and Generva Zenobia (Thompson) Sparks, taken
on their wedding day on January 18, 1872, as well as the wedding picture of
Charles Clair and Sus Ella (Hitz) Sparks, appear below.

Pictures

ROBERT WILLIAM SPARKS GENERVA ZENOBIA THOMPSON

Photographs Taken on Their Wedding Day - January 18, 1872

Picture

CHARLES CLAIR & SUSELLA (HITZ) SPARKS

Photograph Taken on Their Wedding Day - November 25, 1909

44.3.8.3 Sarah Ann Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on February 2, 1849, in Buchanan County, Missouri. She was married to Nelson
Rawles on February 5, 1867, and they had four children, including an adopted
son, Elmer Leyons. The children were: Alice Rawles, John Rawles, and Anne
Rawles. Sarah Ann (Sparks) Rawles died in 1923 at Sparks, Kansas.

44.3.8.4 John Henry Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on February 11, 1851. He was married to Cora A. Blair on May 16, 1889, and
they had two children:

44.3.8.4.1 Edna E. Sparks and 44.3.8.4.2 John R. Sparks.

44.3.8.5 James Harvey Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on February 3, 1853. He was married to Lucinda Wood on June 18, 1875, in Doniphan
County, Kansas. She had been born in Missouri. When the 1880 census was taken
of Doniphan County, James was described as a country merchant. He and Lucinda
had a three-year-daughter, 44.3.8.5.1 Anna, and in all probability this couple had other
children born to them. They moved to the Houston, Texas, area about 1900.

44.3.8.6 Ratliff Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
April 3, 1855, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He was married to Eliza Frazier on November 22, 1875, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born ca.
1856 in Nebraska. She and Ratliff had three children:

44.3.8.7 George Cassell Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on February 3, 1857. He died a few months later.

44.3.8.8 Pleasant Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
October 6, 1858, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He was married to Martha Ritchie on January 24, 1880, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born in November
1858 in Indiana. She and Pleasant moved to the Houston, Texas, area about
1900. Pleasant died in Liberty County, Texas, on December 15, 1937. They had
no children.

44.3.8.9 Isaac Edward Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on November 14, 1860, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He was married to Mary
A. Kelley on April 10, 1888, in Doniphan County, Kansas. They had two children,
44.3.8.9.1 Edward F. Sparks and 44.3.8.9.2 Louis Sparks. Isaac died in 1938.

44.3.8.10 Thomas Jefferson Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was
born on February 22, 1863, in Buchanan County, Missouri. He was married to
Julia Frazie on March 13, 1886, in Doniphan County, Kansas. She had been born
in December 1864 in Iowa. Tom Sparks
died in 1937 at Sparks, Kansas, and Julia died there on March 26, 1954. She and Tom had four children:

44.3.8.11 Mary Catherine Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks,
was born May 26, 1864, in Doniphan County, Kansas, and it was there that
she was married to George Washington Miller on March 30, 1880. He had been
born on April 30, 1862, in Crawford County, Indiana. He and Mary owned and
operated a general store in Sparks, Kansas. They had three children: Ida Sparks,
Dillie George Sparks, and Pleasant V. Sparks. Mary (Sparks) Miller was an
early member of the Sparks Family Association. She died on April 26, 1954,
and was buried at Sparks, Kansas.

44.3.8.12 Alexander Sparks, son of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on December 14, 1867. He died on November 25, 1881. He never married.

44.3.8.13. An unnamed son was born to John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks on August
30, 1874; he died on the same day.

44.3.8.14. Hattie Sparks, daughter of John and Emily (Henderson) Sparks, was born
on November 7, 1876, in Doniphan County, Kansas. It was there that she was
married to James Samuel Mallows on April 16, 1899. He had been born on November
28, 1870, in Doniphan County and was a son of Samuel and Sarah (--) Mallows.
Hattie died on April 22, 1951, at Sparks, Kansas. She had no children.

(Editor's Note: This lengthy query has been published with the hope
that it may lead to conclusive evidence being found regarding the parents of
John Sparks of Greenup County, Kentucky, and Buchanan County, Missouri. As indicated,
we are quite convinced that he was a son of Isaac and Catherine (---) Sparks
of early Estill County, Kentucky, we shall welcome hearing from anyone with
evidence either in support of this theory or to the contrary.)